Structure and Properties Studies of Rapidly Solidified Al-Mn Alloys

Rapid solidification (RS) combined with plastic consolidation by hot extrusion was used to produce Al alloys with additions of varied concentration of Mn. RS flakes were manufactured using an inert gas atomizing of the molten alloy and the spray deposition on the water-cooled cooper roll. Rods of 7mm in diameter were received using cold pressing of RS-flakes, vacuum degassing and hot extrusion procedures. Mechanical properties of as extruded materials were tested in hot compression at temperature range 293K - 773K. It was found that the flow stress was reduced monotonically with deformation temperature for all tested materials. RS alloys exhibit higher mechanical properties than those produced by conventional metallurgy methods. Higher mechanical properties of RS materials are ascribed to beneficial particles morphology obtained due to the rapid solidification. Development of fine Al6Mn particles was observed in all tested RS-materials.